1 November 2022

Mel Ball, Head of Lived Experience Workforce at CNWL and Co-Chair of CNWL’s Lived Experience of Mental Health staff network (LEMHIST) is taking a trip to deliver a keynote speech… on the other side of the world!

CNWL is very proud Mel will be one of the keynote speakers at the Black Dog Institute’s Summit on Self-harm, taking place on Thursday 10 November in Sydney, Australia.

Black Dog is Australia’s only medical institute dedicated to investigating mental health across one’s lifespan, specialising in mood disorders like depression, anxiety and bi-polar.

At the event, Mel will be talking about her experiences working in mental health and explaining her role at CNWL as Head of Lived Experience Workforce, as well as the recent LEMHIST campaign - Stamp out Stigma: Bring your story to work, and all the brilliant work she and Nick Prior, a doctor at CNWL, do leading the LEMHIST network.

Mel started out as a Peer Support Worker and continued to develop her career in the mental health sector with roles in CAMHS, adult inpatient, health and justice services and community mental health services.

Working with commissioners of health services nationally and internationally, Mel also provides a valuable role as a consultant, public speaker, trainer and researcher for a range of organisations including NHS England.

For those who sadly can’t make it to sunny Australia, you can purchase tickets to watch the conference online live or on catch up (available to watch until 17 November). The Black Dog Institute are offering a special student discount of 100 AUD (around £56).

For more information regarding the Summit itself and how to get tickets visit: Summit on Self-Harm - Black Dog Institute.